With Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield as the leads, it’s easy to see why We Live in Time is one of the most anticipated Fall releases. Both actors are at the top of their game and massively popular, and they’re definitely the reason to see this film.
Directed by John Crowley from a script by British playwright and screenwriter Nick Payne, it tells a decade-spanning love story between a talented young chef Almut (Pugh), and a recent divorcée Tobias (Garfield) after a serendipitous meet-up. It’s not exactly a meet-cute as Almut hit Tobias with her car when he wandered off from his hotel room wearing only a robe. But yet it plays off in a cutesy way with playful chemistry between the two actors.
We Meet In Time’s storyline is a familiar one told in a non-linear narrative. We first meet the good-looking couple when Almut feeds Tobias yogurt parfait in bed in their charming English country home. The movie then jumps from that blissful moment to an intense Almut working in a posh restaurant. She doubles over in pain holding her stomach, and soon they’re in a hospital, followed by a cancer diagnosis that requires aggressive chemotherapy.
It leads to a difficult decision about life’s quality versus quantity… as Almut contemplates if it’d be better if she forgoes the treatment to just focus on enjoying whatever time she’s got left. We don’t learn about what kind of cancer Almut has until later, but it hardly matters as the underlying message is how our choices matter in how we want to live our lives.
I’m a bit of a crybaby so I was bracing myself and packed so many tissues in case I’d be balling my eyes out the entire movie. At the screening I was in, there were plenty of Gen-Zers who were clearly emotional (with all the sniffles heard around me). While the movie is filled with a roller coaster of emotions, my eyes remain dry most of the movie. It may seem like a deeply heartfelt story on paper, but the way it hops around in time kind of makes the emotional ride feel a bit off. The usual moments you see in most heartfelt love stories are all here—the adorable first meeting, the proposal, a baby being born, couple’s fight and reconciliations, intimate moments, etc.—but they’re presented in a seemingly random order.
I applaud Crowley in that the jigsaw puzzle timeline doesn’t make the story overly confusing, but the non-chronological order does take a bit of the surprise. It also robs us of feeling invested in the characters’ tumultuous journey. The novelty of unconventional narratives wears out fast, it ends up feeling like a gimmick trying to cover up a basic, predictable plot. When it comes to characterization, both characters feel a bit one-dimensional. Tobias comes off as the nerdy type who’s all about taking meticulous notes, while Almut is the classic go-getter, embodying that type-A personality.
Thankfully, Garfield and Pugh are so charming that they’re able to sustain my interest. I love that both English actors get to speak in their native accents and their naturalistic acting style adds a sense of realism, making it easy for viewers to connect with their characters. I didn’t realize this before but there is a 13-year age gap between 41-year-old Garfield and 28-year-old Pugh, but Garfield’s boyish look somehow made them look relatively the same age. They play well off each other which is fun to watch and their chemistry is more sweet than feverishly sexual.
The strength of We Live in Time is definitely in the casting, which can totally make or break any film, but most especially a romance. I’m a big fan of both actors, and Pugh gets a lot more to do here. The captivating actress has no qualms about nude scenes, and she’s just as fearless when it comes to showcasing her emotions in a truly authentic performance. Garfield’s character arc is mostly flat, which is disappointing as Crowley is the filmmaker who ‘discovered’ Garfield in Boy A.
I do appreciate that the movie isn’t overly mawkish or a complete downer despite the Nicholas Sparks-esque doomed romance. Even though you can pretty much guess that Almut is probably not going to make it past the third act, there are plenty of joyful and funny moments scattered throughout. The birth-delivery-at-a-gas-station-bathroom scene is both hilarious and touching at the same time. Fans of culinary movies would also enjoy all the gourmet cooking scenes, especially as Almut enters a prestigious culinary competition.
The message about making the most of the days in our lives that we’re given resonates with anyone at any age. Crowley’s decade-spanning love story has its moments, but in the end, it doesn’t exactly tear my heart out. If we were to use Almut’s culinary analogy, Pugh and Garfield are the special sauce that somehow made the film a somewhat delectable concoction, despite the vanilla story all scrambled together.
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I think I’ll wait for this when it arrives on streaming although I did hear that there’s some hot sex scenes between the two. 😁
Y’know, I actually didn’t think the sex scenes were all that steamy. Don’t get me wrong, they have great chemistry, but the scene itself weren’t as hot as what the internet made it out to be.
Aw… 😞
I love these actors but I don’t know if I want to sit in a theater and cry over this lol.
I was bracing myself that I’d ball my eyes out but I actually only teared up a little bit so it’s not as emotional as I expected.
It has to be very cleverly done for me to enjoy a jumping back and forth in time. Things can get lost, even in the most needed non-chronological order telling of a story.
Your statement about “It also robs us of feeling invested in the characters’” is a blight in what is supposed the be a tear jerker.
Probably won’t watch it, any time soon at any rate.
3/5 seems generous, even though you were kind in your criticism.
_Off Topic_
Now I want to see “Once Upon a Time in America” again. It jumps around wildly, and I still haven’t solved the main thing I don’t get. Still, a brilliant movie, as close as to a 5 as I’ve ever seen, without getting there..
Yeah, movies with non-linear timeline is tricky. To the director’s credit, the time jumping doesn’t make the story confusing, but somehow it just lessen the emotional beats. It also feels gimmicky after a while, which is never a good thing.
I was being generous because I love the actors and they elevated the film and made the film engaging despite the flaws.
Y’know, I have a blind spot for a lot of De Niro’s movies, including Once Upon a Time in America. That film is nearly 4 hours long though, oh my! The only film I enjoyed that is around that long is Ben Hur.
Yeah..no.. gimmicky!
True, the actors are fab, so when it comes around on my big asp TV, I’ll give it a go.
Ben Hur!?!?
Then you mean the 1959 version. I’ve seen that , but many years ago.
I never saw the 2016 version. Just watched a trailer. Looks pretty great.
I know Once Upon a Time in America is long, but watching it at home w/breaks is akin to binge watching a series.
Am I confused? Is there 2 film festivals- the TCFF & the MSPIFF?
I better check your blog!
Hi Resa! Yes, the 1959 BEN-HUR for sure! It’s a classic and one of my late mother’s favorites. Nothing could top that, so I knew the remake would be terrible, and it was! Even the chariot scene alone is incredible, I don’t know how William Wyler pulled that off in 1959 before CGI, wow!
I might give Once Upon a Time in America one of these days. There are still SO MANY classics I still need to see. Believe it or not, I still haven’t seen The Wizard of Oz in its entirety, I will though before WICKED comes out.
Oh we do have two film festivals in town. MSPIFF in the Spring and TCFF in the Fall. I’d love for you to come visit during those times, you are welcome to stay with me! 🙂
Yes, the chariot scene is incredible.
There are many, many amazing pre CGI extravaganza scenes in movies.
I feel CGI (& probably now AI) is numbing us all.
In my earlier days in film, I remember actually blowing up a house for a movie.
The stunt guys… WOW!
Oh yeah, there are still stunt people, but their stunts are often upgraded with CGI.
Time and tech moves on. There is much grist for the mill in discussing that in terms of film.
Oh my! Thank you for the invite Ruth! Hmmmmmmmmm………. 🙂🙂🙂
I find that many older movies use practical effects in amazing ways, I mean look at Gone with The Wind with ALL those extras during the war scene when Scarlet had to walk through wounded soldiers.
Oh wow, blowing up a house has got to be a memorable day on the set, Resa! I think CGI is important and obviously crucial in certain films, especially fantasy, so long as they’re not overused to replace the story. Story is still king no matter how advanced technology has become.
Yes, my invite always stands! How fun it would be to visit each other in person. My hubby is actually going to be in Toronto in November, I was hoping I could tag along but it’s during Taylor Swift concert weekend so the ticket price went through the roof!! 🤪
“Gone with the Wind” is amazing. Technically it could be the movie that has stood the test of time the best. And it’s one of the very first colour films along with “The Wizard of Oz”
No kidding about Taylor Swift.
It’s not just the concert. There are a slew of other Taylor Swift events: tributes, dance parties, trivia nights and on(she’s not at those, but her fans sure are!)
I’m not leaving the house. Not a Swiftie.
Hope your husband is going to be in a different part of the city! 😳
Hey sorry I missed your comment here… been a hectic few weeks 🤪
I’m no Swiftie either, but boy she has such rabid fans!! I wouldn’t go near a place where she has a concert… sorry that you’d have to be confined for a weekend while she’s in Toronto, but hey perhaps you can work on your memoir or work on a new gown, ahahaha!
Never worry about comments. If something is “that” important, I’ll mail you!
Yes.. working on my art that weekend,100%.
The new Art Gown is about 80%.
Sweatin’ it out!
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Great reviews as always. I have not heard of this movie before but your review has compelled me to check it out. I am a fan of both of these actors who have proven to be talented at their craft. I absolutely adore Florence Pugh who has been appearing in so many great movies lately. She has a strong screen presence in every movie. I love all her films but “Little Women” remains my personal favourite. A phenomenal adaptation of the beloved book. One of my favourite films of all time. So, for this reason, I will definitely keep “We Live in Time” on my watchlist of movies to see this year. Thanks as always for the film recommendations.
Here’s why I loved “Little Women”:
Hi Hassan! Yeah we’re both a big fan of Little Women! I adore Florence too, she is truly one of the best actresses in her generation. She’s the star of this one, though both actors elevate a so-so script.
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